This 500-Square-Foot Boston Studio Apartment Is Incredibly Chic

published May 16, 2018

This 500-Square-Foot Boston Studio Apartment Is Incredibly Chic

published May 16, 2018
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Bedrooms
Square feet

515

Sq ft

515

Name: Maeve Stier (and dog Weaver)
Location: Back Bay — Boston, Massachusetts
Size: 515 square feet
Years lived in: Rented 1 year

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When Maeve and her dog Weaver moved to Boston last July, the first apartment they looked at fit the bill just perfectly. It was in the ideal location, had tall ceilings with intricate molding, lots of natural light, wooden floors, and was dog-friendly! Maeve signed on the spot and became a resident of the hip Back Bay neighborhood.

The Boston-based blogger behind Chic Now saw this studio full of old world character as the perfect canvas on which to splash her signature touches of gold, pale pink, and Scandinavian simplicity.

While planning the apartment, Maeve’s real challenge was creating a space that didn’t feel like one big bedroom. A tall desk and stools delineate a workspace, while an intricate oversized mirror and inherited refurbished chair create a reading nook. Together with an unimposing bed framed by original artwork—and a beautiful emerald couch for entertaining around the hearth—she conquered the challenge with grace and style.

As Maeve and Weaver fast approach their first anniversary of exploring Boston, they’ve truly made this chic studio space their own.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Creative, Romantic, Scandinavian-Cool

Inspiration: I was inspired by the apartment itself, between the crown molding and the chandelier—the space felt very dreamy. Beyond that, I draw inspiration from pretty much everywhere—magazines, movies, Pinterest, furniture stores, coffee shops, boutiques—the list goes on and on.

Favorite Element: My reading corner, which features my grandmother’s blush pink chair and my oversized mirror.

Biggest Challenge: Creating separate “sections” within one giant room. Studios can be tough to decorate, and it took a lot of time to plan out how I would arrange the space so it didn’t feel like just a bedroom.

What Friends Say: The apartment is a direct reflection of my blog; that it’s easy to forget that it’s a studio.

Biggest Embarrassment: The TV on the mantel isn’t ideal—and I actually had someone suggest that I take it down and hide it when Apartment Therapy stopped by. I chose not to, because my apartment is exactly that: mine. It’s a place where I like to entertain and have friends over (which includes regular “movie nights” with a couple of girlfriends), and I don’t want to hide my TV just because the mantel isn’t the prettiest place for it. It’s the most functional place for me to have it, and it would be silly for me to hide it and pretend that my apartment is something that it isn’t.

Proudest DIY: The art above my bed. I was having trouble finding a large piece of art that I adored, so I ended up buying a canvas, paint, and tools at a local craft store so I could create my own.

Biggest Indulgence: My oversized mirror. I was actually able to strike a deal (I bought it from a retail store that was closing down and selling all their fixtures), but getting the 9’x6′ mirror to my apartment was difficult. I now have to clean the lower half pretty regularly, since my dog Weaver likes to get nose-smudges on it.

Best Advice: In a studio, resist the urge to just push all the furniture against the walls and try to break up the space a little more. Also, if one thing is messy, everything looks messy. Keep things minimal and utilize bins and storage where you can to keep your apartment looking tidy.

Dream Sources: Anthropologie, Restoration Hardware.

Resources:

PAINT & COLORS
Benjamin Moore Linen White (Eggshell Finish)

ENTRY
Wire Basket — HomeGoods (similar)
Shoe Shelves — Target
Coat Hooks — HomeGoods (similar)
Side Table — ROSS (similar)
Macramé Wall Hanging — ROSS (similar)

LIVING AREA
Emerald Velvet Sofa — Wayfair
Nesting Coffee Tables — IKEA
Marble Side Table — HomeGoods (similar)
Shelves — IKEA
Rug — Wayfair
Fireplace Candelabra — Frontgate
Prada Marfa Photo — Gray Malin
White Side Table — IKEA

KITCHEN
Baskets — The Container Store
Wine Rack — Amazon
Dubai Art — Souvenir from travels

READING NOOK & WORK SPACE
Blush-Colored Chair — Antique
Oversized Mirror — N/A (similar)
Black & Gold Table — Target
Floor Lamp — HomeGoods (similar)
(Plant type: Majesty Palm)

BEDROOM AREA
Bed — IKEA
Bedding — Pottery Barn
Weaver’s Bed — HomeGoods
Art — DIY
Lamp — N/A (similar)
Nightstand — IKEA
Round Hanging Mirror — HomeGoods (similar)
Dresser — IKEA

BATHROOM
Shower Curtain — Nicole Miller
Towels — HomeGoods (similar)
Kate Moss Print — N/A (similar)

Thanks, Maeve and Weaver!


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